A vacation in Australia: Mountains, forest, reef and gay Sydney

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An adventure vacation in Australia with Alyson Adventures

It's easy to get to know the other travelers in our small, friendly, gay and lesbian groups.

An active, outdoors vacation with Alyson Adventures.

Explore Australia: Hike, swim, snorkel, and enjoy the world's biggest gay parade. The more adventurous can rappel through a waterfall and go white water rafting.

Boomerang!: An adventure vacation in Australia

A gay vacation in Australia takes us from blue mountains to white water.

In the middle of the Northern Hemisphere winter, come enjoy two weeks of sunshine and gay pride in Australia. We've put together a vacation that highlights five unique aspects of this spectacular continent:

The Beach. Australia is famous for its beaches. We begin at one of Sydney's finest: Bondi, and nearby Tamarama.

The Mountains. Next come 3 days in the lush Blue Mountains at a charming gay-friendly B&B. Hike along the cliffs, rappel through a waterfall as you learn the new sport of canyoning (strictly optional!), and watch colorful parrots and cockatoos chase one another through the treetops.

The City. Set on a sparkling harbor, Sydney is perhaps the world's friendliest big city. Our five days there will be full of options: climbing the Harbour Bridge, harbor cruises, theater, great restaurants, a lively gay district, museums, the famous Opera House, and vast botanical gardens.

Mardi Gras. The Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras can only be described with superlatives. The festive 2-hour parade outdoes anything you've seen in the U.S., and our package includes choice seats.

The Reef. The Great Barrier Reef is undisputed among divers as the world's premier scuba spot. Non-divers can take a one-day course and experience the thrill of diving in this surreal underwater world. We include a snorkeling day for everyone and there are also an option for white water rafting through the nearby rainforest.

Highlights:

Admire the scenery (and lifeguards!) at Sydney's famous Bondi and Tamarama beaches.
Watch for kookaburras, parrots, and other wildlife one day in the Blue Mountains... ...then the next day, don a wetsuit and follow a mountain river as it winds through a sculpted sandstone canyon, jumping into pools of water, and perhaps even rappelling through a waterfall.
Take a balmy evening stroll through Sydney's vast botanical gardens.
Enjoy the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade from choice seating.
Climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge, travel across Sydney Harbour on the Manly Ferry, then tour Sydney's famous Opera House, historic district, and museums.
Snorkel or dive on the world's largest living structure, the Great Barrier Reef.
Spend three relaxing days in a seaside condo in Port Douglas, with options for whitewater rafting or admiring the Daintree rainforest, amidst yet more of Australia's unusual flora and fauna.

Is it the right vacation for you? If you've always wanted to see Australia, here's your chance. Our trip shows you much of this continent's unique variety. You can be as active or laid-back as you want, which is why people ranging from their 20's to their 70's have joined us for Boomerang!

Past travellers comment on this trip: "The trip of a lifetime! I can't say just how pleased I am with my decision to travel with Alyson Adventures."— Keith Coffee, Albuquerque, N.M.

"A first-class trip. It provided many varied activities and a chance to experience three different aspects of a friendly and beautiful country: Sydney; the mountains; and the tropics."— Ron Gaddon, Chicago, Ill.

Dates and Price:
We don't offer every trip every year, and no departures are currently scheduled for this trip. Our home page will make it easy to locate forthcoming departures of interest.
Prices are per-person, based on double occupancy. Tours often fill up months before departure. We regularly update our travel schedule to show the status of this and other trips.

Travelling Alone?
So are most of the people who travel with us. You do not need to pay extra to travel by yourself. Prices are per-person, and the single supplement applies only if you'd like a room by yourself. For selected trips, including cruises, we will charge half the single supplement if you request a roommate but we can't match you with someone.

Location: Starts in Sydney, Australia; ends in Port Douglas.

Price includes: Welcome reception; Deluxe accommodations, priced per-person, double-occupancy (we'll match you with a roommate if you like), with living room and kitchen facilities at most spots; Single bedroom when requested (in some cases, your single room will be in a condo or multi-bedroom unit shared with others; a private bathroom may be available, but is not guaranteed); Tour director accompanying the group at all locations; A wine tasting, highlighting a variety of Australia's vintages; Motorcoach transfer to Blue Mountains; A three-hour walk on the famous Sydney Harbour Bridge; A night to remember at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, with prime seating at the extravagant parade; Full breakfast or breakfast supplies every day, 2 lunches, and 3 dinners; Sydney Harbor cruise; A full-day Great Barrier Reef cruise with lunch and snorkeling (weather permitting); Transfers on Day 10 at designated time from hotel in Sydney to Sydney Airport and from Cairns Airport to Port Douglas; Early morning and mid-morning transfers on final day from Port Douglas to Cairns Airport.

Not included: Airfare (including Sydney-Port Douglas flight; see FAQ page for recommended flights); Visa for Australia (can be obtained online or from airline); Souvenirs, snacks, admissions; Meals not listed; Optional activities, such as whitewater rafting, a four-dinner option, and a guided tour of Sydney led by a drag queen; Gratuities for guides; Transfer to hotel in Sydney upon arrival in Australia; Airport-hotel and hotel-airport transfers if not traveling with group at designated times.

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